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Alright, so Leigh's been poisoned by a spider-riding lady, Ansi might be some sort of felon, and just after making enemies of the duo trying to capture your comrade for cash, you've been left with no option but to work with them to help fight off Dracozombies that Gonzo just announced were coming.

Yulea, having been hurt back in town, needs to get that taken care of then get everybody out and moving after your lot.

Clint and his dumb hat are quick to take charge of the situation. "Alright, figure at the rate Gonzo here said they're flyin'... We got a couple minutes to ready up at the most."

Ansi waves a healing staff over Leigh's unconscious form. "That should buy her a bit more time, but I don't keep poison-curing staves around. Blame Une here for not carrying around antitoxins."

"Hey, she's the one who didn't build up an immunity to this stuff," Une then jerks a thumb towards you, "and this one made the mistake of trying to fight us. His girlfriend paid the price."

>A. You admit that
>B. You didn't expect Une to do that!
>C. You're not humoring this argument
>D. No, it's... Definitely Une's fault.
>E. Shut the hell up
>F. Write-in

>>43612979
>C. You're not humoring this argument

>>43612979
>E. Shut the hell up

>>43613013
>>43613077
"Now isn't the time for this argument, so just... Shut the hell up about Leigh." You stand over said unconscious individual. You didn't know you could be this protective.

"Scrawny guy's right," Clint says, "fer' now, we need to focus on getting ready and holding out for the worst." He then glares at Ansi, pulling him closer. "But if I see you trying to run out on this, I won't hesitate to shoot you down and leave you as bait. Our business ain't over."

"I'm here for my job too. Like I'd leave without my paycheck because some bitch backstabbed me."

Une, smirking, responds, "that's the spirit. Kill each other when this is all over."

"Cut the chit-chat. We need a general game plan," Gonzo says. You almost forgot he was still here.

>A. Find someplace to hole up in. There's plenty of derelict old buildings around.
>B. Spread out around the town
>C. You don't know about them, but you're just finding somewhere to hide with Leigh
>D. Write-in (you don't have time for details, a basic idea should do)
>E. You got nothing

>>43613182
>A. Find someplace to hole up in. There's plenty of derelict old buildings around.

>>43613182
Do we have any idea of numbers

>>43613286
Three or four in the immediate vicinity of the town, more a bit further in the distance.

>>43613309
I think we're better off avoiding any wooden houses then, I don't want to get burned alive.
If we can find a non flammable structure then there, otherwise spread out

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>>43613219
"Uh, uh, uh... Decent-sized building!" You point, and you and Gonzo carry Leigh into what seems to be the ruins of a church(?). From what you recall, Dracozombie Breath doesn't burn things, just... Hurt a lot if it contacts something living.

Ansi summons a few Mauthe Doogs to surround the perimeter of the building, and you find someplace to set Leigh down inside.

You hear growling from the hounds and an unholy mockery of a roar, implying that the fighting has begun outside.

"Alright, plan guy..." Ansi gives you a look and continues dryly, "what now?"

"No, no, this... Got us outta the open. Even if we go right back out, this gives us a chance to analyze the situation before we rush back into things." Clint wipes sweat off his brow. "Ansi, how many of those can your dogs take down?"

"Well, it depends on how coordinated the Dracozombies are. Either way, I doubt they could take on all four of the ones out there, and I definitely can't summon enough to kill everything that comes our way. Eventually, they'll start tearing down walls to get to us."

"Think help's gonna come before that?" Une asks.

"It's... a crapshoot."

>A. Let's just wait and see
>B. Then let's prepare for battle
>C. Be silent
>D. Whatever THEY'RE doing, YOU'RE staying by Leigh
>E. Write-in idea

>>43613444
>B. Then let's prepare for battle

>>43613444
>B. Then let's prepare for battle

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>>43613571
>>43613638
"Then let's get ready. Dark Magic works on Dracozombies, right?"

"Believe so."

You nod. "Alright, then. Didn't want another embarrassment like with the Mogall."

The Arch Mogall floats in through a hole in the ceiling.

"Speak of monsters," Ansi quips, "you're going to stay here and protect Leigh."

Gonzo is the next to speak up. "Y'know, that lot sounds about right for me, too."

"Cold feet, soldier?" Clint asks.

"No, it's not about that. See, you're all badasses with nothing to lose, and I respect that, but I have a family to feed, and this seems like the safest thing I can do to still pitch in."

That's... Gotta be the most words you've ever heard Gonzo say at a time.

"Anyway, Lloyd, mind handing me over your vulneraries? If the poison starts to get to her again, I'll just give her one."

Ansi, Clint, and Une start outside while Gonzo awaits your response.

>A. Give him the vulneraries
>B. Refuse
>C. Insist he come outside with the rest of you
>D. Write-in response

>>43613686
>A. Give him the vulneraries

>>43613686
>A. Give him the vulneraries
We have Nosferatu, so we should be ok on health unless we do something stupid.

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>>43613729
>>43613731
You don't hesitate to oblige, pointing out Nosferatu. "This baby should help if I end up getting too hurt." You turn around one more time before leaving. "Oh, and thanks. Watch yourself, alright?"

"I don't plan on dying."

Satisfied with the confidence of his response, you leave him and the Mogall alone.

A Mauthe Doog flies past your face right as you step out, fading away into the magical essence that summoned it up.

You look in the direction it flew from and see a Dracozombie, which takes a step forward as its hind legs snap off and disintegrate. It falls forward before flapping its wings, picking itself up.

>A. Rush it!
>B. Try to stay out of its line of sight
>C. Write-in
>D. Stand in place, egg it closer

>>43613845
>B. Try to stay out of its line of sight

>>43613845
>B. Try to stay out of its line of sight

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>>43613880
>>43613887
You duck behind some debris as it nears you, and it flaps by without interruption...

Shit, it's approaching that place Leigh is in.

Now, on this wounded Dracozombie, you figure, is the prime opportunity to break out Nosferatu for the REAL first time (Arch Mogall didn't count!).

It goes off without a hitch, your attack only just drawing the dragon's attention as its life(?) energy becomes yours. With a grotesque mockery of a roar, it crumbles in the streets.

You feel triumphant and invigorated, only to turn around to see another one staring you down.

Shit, shit, gotta figure out what to do...

Oh, never mind. Une's bael crawls in over a wall and onto the thing's back, pinpointing a spot in its neck to push its sharp claws.

The thing's roars are silenced by Une herself (did we mention she was riding the spider?) cutting into that same spot with a Killing Edge.

"Oh, didn't see you there," she says offhandedly to you as she pets her ride.

>A. Thank her (maliciously/sarcastically)
>B. Continue in silence
>C. Some spiteful comment
>D. Thank her honestly despite her comment
>E. Write-in

>>43614077
>B. Continue in silence

>>43614077
>B. Continue in silence

>>43614159
>>43614205
Alright, cool, nothing to say about that.

You and Une part ways again, leading you into an alley with Ansi as he blasts another Dracozombie, standing just outside of the alley in question, with light magic, which causes it to briefly recoil before smashing its foot where Ansi once stood.

He's now standing right next to you, having narrowly dodged, and is looking up apprehensively as the Dracozombie begins to make a sound not unlike breathing.

"Gh, not enough space to step aside..."

>A. Try to push forward past it
>B. Run back
>C. Attack all-out!
>D. Focus the attack on some part in particular (specify)
>E. Embrace death
>F. Write-in action

>>43614287
>D. Focus the attack on some part in particular (specify)
Attack the part of the neck where Une and her Bael were attacking on the other one.

>>43614368
Not having time to explain to Ansi, you open up Flux (so you can actually aim instead of attacking in general), exclaim "follow my lead!" and blast the spot you saw Une attacking that last one.

"Was gonna go for that anyway," Ansi says as he does so (he probably genuinely was, but you'll sleep better at night thinking you taught him something that day).

The deadly breath of the Dracozombie is completely thrown off by your attack, though it does kill quite a lot of grass in an instant. After the severed head's attack finishes, it too crumbles.

You and Ansi walk around a bit, noticing a fading Dracozombie near the edge of town, and a man in a funny hat on a horse (Clint, you realize after a moment), bow ready as he stares down two more that're drawing closer to the town.

"Looks like I'm as good as free again," Ansi remarks.

>A. Let's leave Clint be
>B. Let's help Clint
>C. Let's "help" Clint (read: you'll be doing the literal opposite)
>D. Write-in

>>43614553
>B. Let's help Clint
If he falls here then we'll be facing those Dracozombies next.

>>43614553
>B

>>43614593
>>43614637
"So you'd rather the three of us handle the Dracozombies alone?"

"Une and I made a pretty good team back in the day. We'd just need to last a little while longer anyway."

Alright, looks like you'll need to speak his language a little better with this. "Y'know, word around camp is Jolie believes you could stand to be kinder to others..."

You didn't even finish your sentence before he wound up riding towards Clint on a Mauthe Doog, cracking open Shine and hurrying to help him fight.

You walk after them a bit, catching up in time to get a hit in on the other Dracozombie.

Clint wipes sweat off his forehead. "Why on earth'd you help me out?"

"I'm attempting to turn over a new leaf. I've found something in this world worth being good for!"

Clint just shoots him a skeptical look. "Uh huh, sure. Don't think that sentimental stuff's gonna get you out of your date with destiny."

Ansi opens his mouth to retort, interrupted by Clint riding off in the direction of Dracozombies flying into town in another direction.

Ansi shoots you an unpleasant look, "I swear, if you've screwed me, Lloyd..."

>A. Can we not do this now
>B. Then what
>C. Suggest he keep at it
>D. Be silent
>E. Write-in

>>43614777
>A. Can we not do this now

>>43614777
>B. Then what

>>43614831
>>43614796
"Then what? No, wait, you know what? Don't tell me. Just... Keep making sure the Dracozombies don't kill us all."

Ansi nods, and you both follow Clint towards the next few incoming Dracozombies.

With his mount, Ansi gets much further, also being spared the displeasure of being caught between two of the damn things.

The one further from you begins to do that breathing thing while the closer one raises one of its rotting claws.

>A. Attack both to the best of your ability
>B. Run around
>C. Call for help
>D. Attack the further one
>E. Attack the closer one
>F. Write-in

>>43614974
>E. Attack the closer one

>>43614974
>E. Attack the closer one

>>43614974
>E. Attack the closer one
And try to dodge the incoming breath attack if possible

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>>43614985
>>43615070
>>43615110
You try your best to aim flux at the perceived weak spot of the Dracozombie.

Your attempt at multitasking succeeds in derailing the claws, and you even manage to luck out and land a more critical strike than you'd expected, managing to hit it with such force that it breaks apart.

You feel, quite accurately, that you just got lucky there. Sometimes that just sort of... Happens, in a fight.

You manage to leap mostly out of the way of the Deadly Breath as well, but you do slip and end up just shy enough of the breath that you can feel the death it reeks of.

As you struggle to stand, it tries to take a snap at you, but is distracted by rings of darkness that surround it and close in on it before vanishing, though not without leaving their literal marks.

It turns to examine the new threat: a floating eyeball monster. Presumably, Gonzo sent it away upon realizing how little there was to do just guarding Leigh. Probably figured that he could do it alone.

You hope he's right, but what's the worst that could happen?

>A. Help Arch Mogall
>B. Try to catch up to Ansi now
>C. Watch what happens
>D. Write-in action

>>43615223
>B. Try to catch up to Ansi now

>>43615223
>A. Help Arch Mogall

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>43615285
>>43615280
Figure it's safe to do the tiebreaker right now. I'm liking the faster pace that this fight has.

>>43615304
You and this eye monster make a pretty good team.

It keeps flying around amusingly, drawing the attention of the Dracozombie as you take shot after shot at its weak spots.

At one point, it's caught in the Deadly Breath, which leads you to realize something: since summoned monsters aren't technically "alive," and are in fact only destroyed, they're about as immune to that stuff as bona fide undead have been observed to be!

In short, you end up patting the oddly-elite Mogall affectionately as it floats idly in place.

Both of you jerk your heads towards the sound of a rather ordinary male voice exclaiming "oh, shit!"

You haven't heard Gonzo raise his voice before, but you would bet that that's him since you don't recognize it as anyone else.

Looking around, Une and her mount are examining the path to Dagda Village expectantly, Ansi and Clint are both fighting their own dudes...

...and a Dracozombie is contorting its head into a hole in that church's ceiling.

>A. Hurry to there! No distractions!
>B. Shout Une into following you!
>C. Stand around!
>D. Go help Ansi!
>E. Go help Clint!

>>43615447
>A. Hurry to there! No distractions!

>>43615447
>A

>>43615447
>A. Hurry to there! No distractions!

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>>43615476
>>43615478
>>43615485
Sure, everyone else is distracted, but that's no reason to believe that you are too!

Faster than you knew you could run, you hurry to the old building, expecting the worst to have occurred to the people you left in there by the time you get in...

...but instead, you see Gonzo, sweat-covered but perfectly fine, having just rammed a Javelin through the head of the slowly-disintegrating Dracozombie. Leigh is propped up against one of those really long chairs, groggy and finishing off the last drops of a vulnerary, another on the ground nearby.

"It's alright, I've got it under control!"

You and Gonzo, both panting with exhaustion, begin to laugh nervously, and you approach Leigh, still looking green around the gills.

As the Dracozombie fades away, Gonzo approaches the space near the ceiling to retrieve his weapon...

...and then another Dracozombie roars, approaches, and opens up its jaws, certainly about to snap Gonzo up. Leigh, despite her poisoning, springs to action, drawing her sword and winces. But you all know none of you are quick enough on the draw to...

Oh, hey, did another, much redder and fierier dragon just literally toss the Dracozombie into the sky and roast it with fiery breath?

It burns away and vanishes in the wind as the Fire Dragon morphs into a bright-redheaded, shaggy-but-neatly-combed-haired humanoid figure who looks to be in his late teens, albeit lacking the similarly-fiery eyes you're told literally all Fire Dragons have. He's wearing rather heavy armor.

"Father, there are three more in here!"

>A. What the hell is going on
>B. Who the hell are you
>C. Stand in silence
>D. Write-in

>>43615663
>A. What the hell is going on
>B. Who the hell are you

>>43615663
>A. What the hell is going on
>B. Who the hell are you
>Check to see if Gonzo and Leigh are alright.

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>>43615679
>>43615710
"Well, are any of them hurt?" A man's voice calls out.

"Well, this one looks to have been poisoned!"

"Right, I'll send Nat right on in! You just hurry up and help take care of the rest of these undead nuisances, Jorden."

You don't get a chance to ask anyone what's going on before wings unfold from spots in the back of the armor and he takes off, transforming into a dragon again and taking off in Ansi and Clint's direction.

You take a chance to take a look at Leigh, who still looks mostly out of it (blame the poison), and Gonzo, who seems just as confused as you from what you can see under his helmet. He fishes out a locket around his neck, opens it up, and kisses whatever picture is held inside, though.

A woman with rather hard facial features (yet still soothing in their own way), along with black hair in a neat bun, walks in with an impressive-looking staff. You swear you see Yancy standing around outside.

You ask this woman, "okay, who was that guy? What's going on?"

"He's Jorden. He helped you."

As soon as the woman's done waving her staff around Leigh, your girlfriend shakes her head, finally clearer-minded, immediately sees you, and throws her arms around you.

"You had me worried sick there!" She says, "almost getting killed like that..."

>A. That's your line!
>B. Love you too
>C. Not in front of the stranger and generic co-worker
>D. Write-in action/dialogue
>E. Smile silently

>>43615863
>A. That's your line!
>B. Love you too
>have a big grin on our face

>>43615863
>A. That's your line!
>B. Love you too

>>43615901
>>43615911
"H-hey, that's my line..." You smile and return the arm-wrapping gesture. "Love you too, though."

In a dry tone, the woman says, "kids these days. So lewd. Next you're going to hold hands in front of me."

Gonzo sits around quietly, and after you and Leigh's moment ends, you say, "thanks, to... Everyone who just showed up. I don't know how much longer we could've held out."

"It's not a problem. Most of the people here are from your company. Reese, Jorden, and I just happen to be experienced."

"Right, right... Anyway, I'm Lloyd."

Leigh raises her hand. "Leigh. The quiet fellow over there is Gonzo."

"Natalie," the woman finally says. "I... understand you are friends of Yancy's."

You nod, but before this conversation line can continue, Leigh says, "hey, are people still fighting out there? I'll look bad if I don't accomplish anything but getting hurt all trip long!"

With that, she hurries out.

You hear a "hey, watch it!" and "sorry, Yancy" from outside.

>A. Follow Leigh
>B. Stay and chat with Nat
>C. Write-in

>>43616006
>B. Stay and chat with Nat

>>43616006
>A. Follow Leigh

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>43616037
>>43616025

>>43616095
"So," you say, "Yancy's mother?"

"...yes."

A few moments of silence pass.

"I, uh... Take it you taught her how to heal?"

"Yes. I... Would have preferred she not become a mercenary at all, but she and Yulea are. Much more like their fathers than they let on. None of us could stop her if I tried. Showing her how to heal was the best I could do for her."

You... Don't really have much more to say than that. A few minutes later, you're reporting back to Marrius after he's cut down the last of the Dracozombies.

He and a fellow with shaggy brown-gray hair, looking generally like an older Jorden (you later learn that apparently half-manaketes' aging slows when they reach adulthood, as opposed to slowing in mid-childhood like full-blooded ones).

"Ah, but it's good for you to come anyway, even considering the circumstances," the man says to Marrius. Jorden, standing nearby, looks disinterested in all of this. Shea and Yvette are paying attention, but not saying much.

"Yeah, but still... I wouldn't have been able to come this year otherwise."

Looking around at everyone, you and Leigh do notice a distinct lack of Ansi or Clint. Near the outskirts of town, Leigh spies Une riding off in a seemingly-random direction.

>A. Follow her
>B. Let Leigh handle this
>C. Seek out Jolie then follow Une
>D. Write-in

>>43616259
>A. Follow her

>>43616259
>A. Follow her

>>43616295
>>43616305
The two of you cautiously follow Une, none of you seeming to be noticed by anyone who cares enough to follow. Near the disintegrating corpse of one last Dracozombie, Ansi and Clint stare each other down, book and bow ready, just as you saw them earlier.

"Maybe you've grown some honor. Maybe you're just good at fakin' it. I can't tell the difference, so I say it doesn't mean I'm gonna stop here."

"There are a couple knights of Neir right in the town. Why not just throw me to their mercy?"

"You know that ain't my style." Clint draws his bow.

"Which is why you won't make it out of this." Ansi raises his tome.

Une glances at both of you, sitting atop her spider. "You interfere again, I interfere again."

>A. Silently don't take action
>B. Say something to try to stop this (specify)
>C. Attack Clint
>D. Attack Ansi
>E. Attack Une
>F. Attack the Bael
>G. Write-in action

>>43616424
>B. Say something to try to stop this (specify)
What did Ansi that was so terrible that he has to be killed now?

>>43616515
This

>>43616515
>>43616549
"Seriously, what the hell did he do that was so bad?"

Ansi and Clint keep staring each other down tensely.

Une obliges, however. "Back when we were a team, bounty hunting together, Ansi was sort of... Gung-ho. We'd always get our man, rake in some gold..."

"...but this bastard didn't care who the hell died so he could do that! If someone with no stake in this happened to be in the way of a check," Clint says, gritting his teeth and glaring, "made no difference to him or his beasts. Just... Took 'em all apart."

Ansi is silent, albeit finally being the first to strike Clint.

"It's why he grew his hair out, became a more ordinary mercenary... Clint here never gave up, though. Even if this was the only place that wanted him captured, he'd just... Not stop trying to find a way to get him here." Une points at herself when she says "a way," presumably referring to their history. "Finally tracked him down thanks to me."

Arrows and light blasts continue flying back and forth.

>A. Makes no difference to you
>B. Yeah that's actually pretty fucked
>C. Say something more (specify)
>D. Attack someone (specify)
>E. Write-in

>>43616688
>B. Yeah that's actually pretty fucked
>but he's not that bad, he even let our assailants go when we were protecting the prince!

>>43616759
"That is... Actually kind of fucked, and I assume you're withholding details as it is."

Une nods, and Leigh looks... Uncertain.

"BUT. That doesn't mean he's really a bad guy, and it would make me a hypocrite to condemn him for his past actions."

Knowing what you're getting at, Leigh preempts you, "he's even shown mercy when we were protecting Sir Welles! Not a single one of his assailants died, and Ansi just... Listened."

Clint's assault doesn't slow, but Ansi seems to genuinely have the upper hand anyway...

Eventually, a blast of Shine knocks Clint to his feet, prompting Ansi to walk closer.

"So ends my life... Figure you're gonna say that Dracozombie got me, y'did everything you could to stop it..." Ansi glares down at Clint, who sighs. "Alright, Une, don't give him trouble... Hate this man, but a deal's a deal."

"But... That means I won't get paid for all this work I put in." Her refusal plainly stated, Une jumps off of her mount at Ansi.

>A. Attack Une!
>B. Whatever happens happens

>>43616924
>what would Julie think Ansi?

>>43617003
Now isn't really the time for questions, if you weren't paying attention.

>>43616924
>If money's the main issue here then how much do you need in order to not kill Ansi?

>>43617026
Then
>B. Whatever happens happens

>>43617037
She is literally mid-leap, anon.

>>43616924
>A. Attack Une!

>>43617105
Well if >>43617037 won't work then
>A. Attack Une!
Be mindful of that spider though. Just want to stop everyone from killing each other at this point.

>>43617042
>>43617037
You consider asking Une what her price for sparing your friend is, but she is... Literally in the middle of leaping at him when you open your mouth.

Now might not have been the best time to ask, but...

An arrow goes through Une's eye before she can attack Ansi.

"I... I've been shot?"

Clint groans, still holding his bow and now out of arrows. "Was saving that one to shoot this bastard while I'm down, but... If there's one thing I hate, it's someone without any honor."

"Y-yo-ou... F-fk-fucking i-idiot..." Une clutches her eye in pain, dropping her killing edge and walking over to her Bael, "yo-yu-your... Stp-sp-stupid pride..."

Holding back tears from her good eye, Une haphazardly mounts her Bael and indicates that the creature get the hell away as fast as possible.

You all doubt she'll make it very far in her current state, but she at least rides out of your eyesight.

Ansi glares at Clint. "You're absolutely stupid, you know that?"

Clint nods. "Yeah, that was stupid... But I don't regret it. Least I gutted one of you honorless bastards..."

Ansi groans, closing his tome. "Great, now I'm not feeling it anymore. You really know how to kill a mood, don't you?"

Ansi groans in discuss and storms off back towards town.

You, Leigh, and Clint all stand around silently.

You wonder if attacking Une before she got that close would've gotten Ansi shot instead, but perish the thought as Leigh helps Clint up.

Clint groans, walking around the field to find his arrows strewn about. "Now he's killed the mood too. Listen here, both of you. Let your buddy know that if he goes off the straight and narrow at all, wherever he is... I'll find him, personally give him a matchin' wound with that partner of his."

>A. You'll pass it along
>B. What the fuck is going on
>C. This guy's an idiot
>D. Stunned silence
>E. Write-in

>>43617180
Whoop, didn't see thissun before I'd already finished up the post.

>>43617213
No worries. That worked out better than I had hoped.
>A. You'll pass it along
>B. What the fuck is going on

>>43617254
"I'll... Pass it along, I guess?"

You and Leigh share confused looks as Clint approaches his horse.

"Seriously, what the hell is happening?"

Clint answers. "Told her from the moment our partnership began, if she tried anything funny I'd turn on her in a second. She said sure, but must've not believed I'd go through with it."

"Uh... huh."

"Be seeing y'all." Clint rides off into the sunset after that. Clearly a man of cliche and melodrama.

"That Clint..." Leigh smiles, "he's so cool, so... Honorable!"

>A. Say you agree. Don't spoil the moment
>B. Agree that he's cool (truth)
>C. Admit he's kind of an idiot
>D. Nothing he does makes any damn sense
>E. Write-in

>>43617355
>A. Say you agree. Don't spoil the moment
>D. Nothing he does makes any damn sense

>>43617399
"Nothing that man does makes any damn sense..." You catch yourself, and decide to lie for the sake of not starting another stupid fight. "Yeah, though, he's pretty great."

"Think Une's gonna strike back?"

You shake your head. "People just don't survive stuff like that, not without serious medical attention."

"But I mean what if they don't find the body?"

"Also happens sometimes. Still doesn't mean she's not dead in some hole."

Leigh nods. "I guess so..."

The two of you return to Orsin Village after that.

Yulea approaches the two of you at the outskirts of town, frowning slightly. She asks, "Ansi didn't... Do something really bad to get out of that jam, did he?" You and Leigh shake your heads, leading Yulea to smile.

"What're you guys talking about?" Yancy asks, approaching as she leaves a conversation with her mother in the distance.

>A. Be completely straightforward
>B. Bullshit something (specify)
>C. It's a secret to everybody
>D. Write-in
>E. Let Yulea and/or Leigh handle this

>>43617515
>E. Let Yulea and/or Leigh handle this

>>43617515
>nah, he did the right thing

>>43617545
"It's... Dark past stuff," Yulea answers vaguely.

"Oh. Who this time?"

"Ansi."

"Knew he'd done something." Yancy shrugs.

You recall how it was mentioned that Marrius' Group is very sympathetic towards reformed criminals, and though you've never actually met any examples in the ranks besides yourself, Leigh, and Ansi, you're sure there are more examples you'll just... Never meet.

And then a few moments of awkward silence before you and Leigh part ways with Yancy and Yulea.

A few minutes later, you see Cargia bothering Ansi, and the big man waves you over.

"Oi, Lloyd, Leigh! You two were fighting all those Dracozombies with just... Four of you total?"

Leigh is about to correct him with more facts of the thing, but you figure that leaving Une and Clint out of the story will make for much less explaining, preempting her with a simple "yeah."

"Hah." Cargia grins, patting both of you on the back. "And I thought you two were pretty tough for standing up to me back in Gravern..."

Shea lands nearby on her Wyvern. "Harassing Marrius' Group again, Cargia?"

>A. It's fine
>B. Say nothing
>C. He is sort of annoying
>D. Write-in response

>>43617648
>A. It's fine

>>43617648
>A. It's fine

>>43617716
>>43617727
"It's fine, really."

Shea nods. "Alright, that's fine... Anyway, soon as Yvette's done paying Marrius, the three of us were gonna go, so..."

Cargia nods. "We don't see each other often enough, Shea."

"I know, I know... This is important stuff we're looking into, though. You know that we can't take any more time off."

Cargia nods. "Get a hobby or something, though. It unnerves people when someone doesn't make use of any perfect-to-waste time."

"That's... Really none of your business."

"Sister, the people of Neir love our parents because they're personable. Keeping people at an arm's length as you do, it's hardly healthy!"

"Er... Their personality is far from the only reason they're so popular. I mean, they also-"

"Bah, save the political chat for someone who has a brain for that."

"Then why don't you save the talk of wasting time for someone who doesn't have the fate of the world in her hands?"

You and Leigh can tell that a sibling argument is erupting and promptly show yourselves away, Ansi following with a shocked expression. "Wh-what... So Jolie is already leaving? But... But there's so much still unsaid! Absence makes the heart run yonder, and I still haven't won her over!"

Ansi runs into town, exclaiming Jolie's name.

Leigh gives you a look that you know says "now what?"

>A. Follow Ansi
>B. Have some time alone together
>C. Skip ahead to the next noteworthy thing to happen
>D. Write-in

>>43617856
>A. Follow Ansi

>>43617856
>B. Have some time alone together

>>43617856
>B. Have some time alone together

>>43617856
>A. Follow Ansi

>>43617915
>>43617943
>>43618013
>>43618093
"Jolie!" Ansi is exclaiming to the green-haired girl when you approach, "already parting ways..."

"A real shame, isn't it?" Jolie sounds as bubbly as ever, which is... More than enough of a sign of exactly how upset she is over this. "But hey, don't stop being a hero on my absence's account, alright?"

Ansi nods. "Of course... I've forgiven enemies today, reaffirmed that I can change... For you, I'll be the best man you've ever seen by the time our paths cross again!"

"It's a pretty daunting task..."

"Ah, but so is yours... Traveling the continent, so new to your job, so bright-eyed... I don't know how our destinies can possibly compare, but..." He closes his eyes and clenches his fist, "but we'll make it work."

"That's nice!" Jolie walks off. "See you around!"

Seeing that he hasn't ended up hurting anyone, you and Leigh decide to stop summonersitting. No longer needed in Orsin, you return to Dagda village, to the inn where Marrius' Group was put up, and... celebrate.

Between your cut of both Shea and Jay's pays, you gain a solid 3,000 gold, and Cargia personally rewards you, Leigh, Ansi, and Gonzo each a red gem (which you later sell for another 3,000 with Yancy's bargaining tactics) for your standing up against the Dracozombies, putting you at 9,800 gold.

>to be continued next thread
Yeah, I wasn't sure how to end this, but also didn't want to outright forget to write about getting paid, so I tacked it on at the end.

It sure is a shame that Une was so soundly dealt with...

Anyway, thanks for playing. As always, you can follow us for updates on twitter @qmgrandflocto, check out http://ask.fm/qmgrandflocto, or just talk in-thread for awhile.

>>43618100
Thanks for running. I liked Une too but if I had to pick between her and Ansi I would choose Ansi. So I'm glad he survived over her. There was really no way of solving that conflict without killing though?

>>43618100
I didn't mean for her to get hurt, but at the same time she is the one who poisoned Leigh so I almost feel like she deserved it more than anyone

>>43618195
There might have been something, but Ansi probably wouldn't have died even if you attacked Une, even if he would've gotten hurt.

Clint would've shot him as planned, probably took out an eye, but he'd just end up killing him in retaliation. Meanwhile, Une realizes she's in too deep, Ansi tells her to get the hell out of his sight and passes out. Few threads of recovery later, Ansi has an eyepatch even more garish than the rest of his outfit.

>>43618223
In her defense, she was aiming for you.

Was anyone fooled by how hard we caked on the death flags for Gonzo, by the way?

>>43618278
I was thinking you might go through with it but wasn't too surprised when you didn't. Gonzo seems like a cool guy from what little we know of him so if he sticks around then I'm happy.

>>43618322
Yeah, it was Grandflaw's idea. He appreciates the "forgettable rank-and-file soldier" aesthetic.

>>43618358
He has good taste

>>43618418
Une, Ansi, Clint, Yone, Jolie, Irene, Calof, Eyven, and Kneil were also his suggestions if I remember correctly, just out of who's been introduced so far, though both of us worked on figuring the details of most of the cast.

>>43618470
Speaking of Calof, we'd actually originally envisioned a character like him way back early in Gen. 1, before we'd even figured out the role the Vautou would play in that story. His deal was going to pertain to being unable to transform due to some trauma... But then, as you saw, the bird-folk ultimately weren't able to do that anyway, and besides that we straight couldn't find a suitable place to squeeze him in. A few of the other gen. 2 characters are like that too, but they were all thought up after I'd proposed we plan for a sequel

>>43618602
I thought the Vautou were just people riding giant birds for all of the last quest and until Calof showed up. Apparently my reading comprehension sucks sometimes.

>>43618650
Happens to the best of us. The vautou weren't all that important in Gen. 1 anyway (mostly spent it as minions of a minor ally), so it's excusable to be mixed up about them.